Stretchable printed electronic sheets to electrically connect uneven two dimensional and three dimensional surfaces

Abstract

A method and apparatus for forming a circuit on an uneven two-dimensional (2-D) or three-dimensional (3-D) surface of an object is described. An amount of electrically conductive material to form a circuit between two points on the object is determined. The determined amount of electrically conductive material is deposited on a first surface of a stretchable substrate. The stretchable substrate with the deposited electrically conductive material is applied to the object to form a circuit between two points on the object.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A system for electrically connecting uneven two-dimensional (2-D) or three-dimensional (3-D) surfaces of an object, comprising:
 a printer; 
 a stretchable substrate comprising a first surface and a second surface; 
 a conductive material; and 
 the object, wherein 
 an amount of the conductive material required is based on a length between two points on a surface of the object, 
 the surface of the object includes at least an uneven surface, 
 the printer deposits the conductive material on the first surface of the stretchable substrate, and 
 the second surface of the stretchable substrate mates with the object. 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the amount of the conductive material deposited is based on a calculated volume of the amount of the conductive material required to electrically connect the two points of the object. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the conductive material is a stretchable conductive material. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the conductive material forms a patterned circuit on the stretchable substrate. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 4 , wherein the patterned circuit is a horseshoe patterned circuit. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the conductive material is conductive ink. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 6 , wherein the conductive ink includes conductive particles. 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second surface of the stretchable substrate includes an adhesive material. 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the printer is a 3-D printer and the 3-D printer further deposits the conductive material into a reservoir area within the stretchable substrate.